On a very damp Sunday morning at Ellon Meadows, Ellon and Mackie U15 teams turned out to give a good crowd a very entertaining game of rugby.
It started a bit scrappy, but both teams soon got stuck in and made good of a wet ball. Mackie were first to score when they attacked down the right flank with the 15 coming outside the winger for a well-run try. Ellon were all ball watching in the middle of the park, and got sucked in to the breakdown. Ellon soon answered with a well worked try from a turned over ball spun out through Archie Andraid and Ryan Notton to go over. Ellon dominated the line outs for the whole of the first half and were doing very well in the scrums. Ellon were a bit slow in the rucks, possibly because it has been 4 weeks since the last game. Ellon yet again got good ball from the break down and the backs passed the ball slickly to the Wing where Ryan Notton went over for his second wide out. Half time came and Ellon 10 - 5 up with all to play for.
Half time Ellon spoke about quicker support to the ruck and to stay strong in the ruck. Encouragement was given to keep up the good line outs and to work hard in the loose.
Second half got under way and Ellon had a good restart from the kick, with Sam Martin powering through but support was slow and we lost the ball. Mackie started well and took a few of our balls and line outs started to get scrappy. Ellon sat in the Mackie 22 for a good 10 minutes but could not convert that pressure to points. They did go over the line from a short line out but the ball had not gone 5m, so the ref was spot on. Good so see the Ellon lads trying this move. As the game went on Ellon forwards started to get tired and Mackie seamed full of running as they had weathered the storm and that gave them a boost. They once again sucked Ellon in and they had no back cover and a try was scored near the posts.
Ellon had a very good restart kick which went over heads and into touch. Ellon were very much still in the game but the legs were now heavy and the brain was concentrating on breathing and the pain. Mackie were off once again with a good through kick and pressure again the backs sucked in, which left a second row and a winger out in the backs and a 4 on 2 for a Mackie score.
A great crowd down supporting both teams, showed the great spirit in Rugby. They all saw the Ellon lads showing great improvement.
Ellon can take more positives from the game than negatives; the lads were gutted as they thought they did enough to win on another day with the rub of the green we would have won. A few things to mention thank you to Cody, Adam and Scotty playing up from S2 and did very well. Big thanks to Ryan and Archie for helping us out. Harrison for his first game of rugby. Forward of the Match Sam Martin and back of the game was Cody (S2) Picked by Martin Sisley. James Sisley who is injured came and took the team out and did the toss of the coin with Mackie, as this was his last game for Ellon. The Sisley family now move to Norfolk for a few years, taking a great rugby family with them. Martin has coached, played and supported Ellon for a number of years, with his sons playing rugby across the club. They will be missed until their return in a few years’ time.

This weekend

Saturday

S1/2 V Huntly away 11:00 - Friendly

U18 V Mackie 12:30 - National U18 League

Ythan Bears V Howe Kights 12:30 - Old boys Friendly

There is also the Scotland V Tonga and Wales V New Zealand on the telly at the club house.